'4 mines within 4-5 meter radius — very high density'

'Need to take action on reinstalling loudspeakers'

People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Yong-won. [Yonhap]
People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Yong-won. [Yonhap]

People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Yong-won, a member of the National Assembly's National Defense Committee, said Thursday that hundreds of North Korean mines may have been planted south of the Military Demarcation Line in the 25th Division area alone, and warned that tensions could escalate near the eastern front's 21st Division, where North Korean troops have recently been crossing the line in increasing numbers.

Appearing on CBS Radio that day, Yoo said he had previously disclosed during a parliamentary interpellation session that North Korean forces were estimated to have created six minefields in the 25th Division area, extending to points 10 to 15 meters south of the MDL. "I believe this latest incident has confirmed part of what I revealed at the time," he said.

He said North Korean forces typically plant mines at intervals of two to three meters. "As far as I know, there are several minefields that are tens of meters to more than 100 meters wide," Yoo said. "That is why it is estimated that more than several hundred mines may have been buried."

On the discovery of a single Shu-ji anti-personnel mine by a joint South Korean military and UN Command investigation team at the scene, Yoo said the two mines that exploded were two meters apart and the Shu-ji mine was found one meter from those. "Including the mine our forces spotted, there were four mines within a radius of four to five meters," he said. "The density is quite high."

Yoo said surveillance equipment had captured North Korean troops planting mines on the South Korean side of the line, yet military authorities had never publicly protested. "The Ministry of National Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff watched North Korean soldiers burying mines on our soil and never issued a protest or warning statement to the North," he said. "They should have at least put out a statement saying they would not stand for it happening again."

He also said the mines south of the MDL must be removed. "If we leave them in place, won't we be unable to conduct operations in that area even though it is south of the MDL — our own territory?" Yoo said. "Because it is on our land, it is right to remove them, and we must do so for the safety of our troops and for operational reasons."

Yoo said particular attention should be paid to the situation around the 21st Division on the eastern front. "The 21st Division area is what we need to watch going forward," he said. "As far as I know, fence construction and minefield-laying operations are actively under way on the 21st Division side as well."

He went on to say there could be movements to plant mines southward there as well, similar to what occurred in the 25th Division area. "Our military will have no choice but to respond more firmly and on principle than before, and there is a real possibility that tensions will rise on the 21st Division side, so we need to watch it very closely," he added.

Yoo named the reinstallation of loudspeakers as one tool for responding to the North. "We must demand the removal of mines south of the MDL, a formal apology, and guarantees against recurrence," he said. "Loudspeaker broadcasts are one of the most viable cards we have."

He went on to say that while the current government had dismantled all loudspeakers since taking office, "I think we need to at least take the action of reinstalling them, even if we do not actually begin broadcasting."


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